As a former director in the NHS I have worked within a public healthcare system that, despite its critics, continues to provide a high level of care for all, irrespective of ability to pay. Michael Moore's latest film, Sicko, on the other hand, illustrates how a privatised health system can deny many their basic right to health.

Like most of Moore's films, Sicko will have its critics - some more thoughtful and justifiable than others. But what is undeniable about the issue Moore highlights is that healthcare can be delivered to all and it is the government's responsibility to do so, especially for the world's poorest people.

Sadly this fact is lost upon some of the major aid donors, particularly the World Bank, which has been pushing the privatisation of public services in developing countries since the 1980s via conditions on its aid. The World Bank has been joined by some rich country donors in promoting policies that shrink the role of governments in health through contracting out services to the private sector and charities. For the poorest people this is disastrous.

There is plenty of evidence that governments can deliver healthcare for everyone. Policies that promote the market over the state tend to serve only the wealthier sector of society and, despite popular assumptions, often prove less efficient. Evidence shows that the administration costs for US private health insurance companies can range from 10-30% of total healthcare costs, compared to 1% for the government run Medicare. The end result is clearly illustrated by Sicko: people are forced to make choices between seeking medical care and other essentials including food and housing. Healthcare is a basic right we should all enjoy - it must be accessible to all and not the privileged few who can afford to pay for it.

Sicko gives strong examples of countries where governments are responsible for significant progress in delivering healthcare - and it isn't just rich countries that can do this. Despite the US government spending 37 times more per person than the Sri Lankan government on health care, the probability of a women receiving skilled assistance during delivery is almost identical and the immunisation rate for one-year-olds is higher in Sri Lanka than in the US. Sri Lanka's success has been achieved by prioritising healthcare in its national budget, making services free, ensuring services are adequately staffed, ensuring healthcare is available in rural areas as well as towns and cities and by making services work for women and girls.

However, the reality for other poor countries is less encouraging. Millions of people in Nepal, Ethiopia and Liberia, for example, can't afford to even see a doctor, let alone get the treatment they need. We can't allow the poorest people in countries to go unnoticed or uncared for. It is a government's responsibility to provide basic healthcare for all of its citizens. One essential step towards achieving this is to prioritise healthcare in national budget allocations. It's the donor's responsibility to provide aid that is long term, predictable and free of harmful economic conditions.

Rather than replicate the mistakes in the US, which has one of the most unequal health systems in the world, rich countries and institutions like the World Bank should support developing countries in building healthcare systems that work for the poorest people. Today, good quality, affordable healthcare is a dream for millions of people. We must make this dream a reality.